Full Name: MARK COUGHLAN
Date of Birth: 20/04/1982
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 85 kg
Guernsey: 24
Debut: 27/05/2001, Round 9, Geelong
Last Game: 28/08/2009, Round 22, West Coast
RICHMOND SENIORS
Seasons: 2001-09
Total Games: 92
Total Goals: 39
Honours: Best & Fairest 2003
BIOGRAPHY
Mark Coughlan attended Wesley College in Perth and was drafted by Richmond with pick 25 overall in the 2000 AFL National Draft. Mark played his first senior game for Richmond in Round 9 , 2001 against Geelong. Mark a strong , ball-winning midfielder played 5 senior games in 2001 and quickly became a regular senior player finishing 3rd in 2002 club Best and Fairest and winning the 2003 club Best and Fairest , the Jack Dyer Medal. Mark was hampered by osteitis in 2004 and played 7 games. Returning strongly in 2005 Mark played 22 games and finished 5th in the Best and Fairest. After playing the first 11 games in 2006 Mark injured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee in Round 12 against Hawthorn ending his 2006 season. In the 2007 pre-season Mark suffered a reoccurrence of his ACL knee injury believed by slipping in the shower. The injury caused Mark to miss the whole 2007 season. In the 2008 pre-season Mark was suffering persistent hamstring injuries and was flown to Germany to receive special treatment from renowned but controversial soft tissue sports injuries expert Dr Hans – Wilhelm Muller – Wohlfahrt . The treatment was successful and Mark returned to Richmond to play the remainder of the year with Richmond’s VFL Affiliate Coburg.
Mark suffered minor cartilage damage in the 2009 pre-season and underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair the tear. Mark returned to the senior team on 25/04/2009 for the Round 5 win against North Melbourne, the first senior game he had played since Round 12, 2006. Mark played 9 senior games in 2009. Mark was delisted by Richmond at the end of 2009. Mark was a favourite with the Tiger fans because of his skill and his great tenacity with his strong tackling. Life is full of “ what if’s “ and Richmond fans who can remember the early/mid 2000’s must occasionally ponder “ what if “ Mark Coughlan wasn't stymied by so many injuries.
PRE RICHMOND
Perth , Joined Richmond with Richmond's selection pick 25 overall in 2000 National Draft.
POST RICHMOND
;){kind=link}